The best word to describe the culture in Mansfield, Texas is ‘success.’ The community has embraced the qualities that make a healthy mid-sized city work: low taxes, small business-friendly, top-notch police, fire, and emergency services, and close attention paid to a high quality of life to nurture strong families.
His opponent, MAGA-backed real estate developer Julie Short, is taking a different approach. Short’s campaign has focused on launching false personal attacks, questioning Mansfield culture, and counting on divisive, hyper-partisan, out-of-town agitators to create resentment and division.
In hindsight, we shouldn’t be surprised. As a city councilwoman, Short would sometimes break with the usually united council to flash her MAGA, anti-family instincts. A great example is when she broke with every other city council member and voted “no” on a new, safe, attractive dog park to serve families.
It’s unclear whether Short’s stand against families and their four-legged best friends was based on ideology, distorted fiscal priorities, or just a dislike for dogs. Still, her vote was certainly consistent with the mean-spirited nature of her campaign.
So far, Mansfield families and their dogs have come out ahead. The park is beautiful and very popular.
We’ll find out soon enough if Julie Short’s petty swipe at Mansfield families and their pets comes back to bite her in the um… campaign.
